Game apparatus.



(No Model.)

- Patented Dec. 2, I902. W. M. STEBBINS.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed. Oct. 16, 1901.\

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NITED TATES WILLIAM M. STEBBINS, OF HASTINGS, MICHIGAN.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,754, dated December 2, 1 902. Application filed October 16, 1901. Serial No. 78,875. (No model.)

To 0; whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. STEB- BINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Barry and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved game apparatus, and has for its object the production of a simple, instructive, and interesting amusement; and to this end it consists, essentially, in a thoroughfare leading from a suburbanlocation,represented byaparticular configuratiomto a town or city,stores or places of business having difierent articles of merchandise being disposed on opposite sides of the thoroughfare, the field at opposite sides of the thoroughfare representing a sidewalk or path, being provided with regularly-arranged open spaces communicating with similar spaces arranged in the sections designating the stores or places of business, which are disposed in groups and afford units of travel in playing the game by means of a suitable number; of playing-pieces.

The invention also consists in the details of arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

tures of the invention and having at the cen ter of one end a semicircular space 3, divided by a central radial line at, thesaid space being designated Home, and is the startingpoint of the game, which is played by two persons starting on opposite sides of the line 4E and having playing-pieces 5 and 6, respectively shown by Figs. 2 and 3, and of a color corresponding to that designated in the spaces provided by the said line 4. The space 3 is located at one terminal of a thoroughfare 7, representing a street, which extends almost full length of the field, and on opposite sides thereof are sidewalks or paths 8 and 9, which diverge from points on opposite sides of the line 4 of the space 3 until they connect with parallel portions of the said sidewalk or path within the town or city. Within the limits of the town or city which the playing-field may represent are a series of distinctly-defined sections 10, arranged in alinement on opposite sides of the thoroughfare 7 and to which the sidewalks or paths 8 and 9 directly lead, the sections representing the stores of merchants or other places of business and having spaces 11 surrounding three sides of each for containing advertising matter or a description of the goods carried in stock by the merchant represented in connection With each section and whose name will appear in a central sign-space 12 at a distance from the inner opposing edges of the advertising-spaces 11, so as to form alley-ways 13 around the signspaces. The inner portions of the sections 10 are open to the sidewalks or paths 8 and 9 through the medium of the alley-ways 13, and all of the sections are of similar form and arrangement, as well as dimensions. At the end of the thoroughfare 7 opposite that at which the space 3 is located a hotel 14 will be represented and form the means of passing across the field from one sidewalk or pathway to the other, so that the opposing players may make a complete circuit of the field in playing the game. The sidewalks or pathways and alleyways 13 have distinctly-defined open spaces 15 therein, which are of circular form in the present instance and afford units of travel in playing the game, the hotel representation 14: having alined pairs or a double row of similar spaces 16 and 17, which can be occupied by the pieces of the opposing players. Located in the thoroughfare is a counter 18, comprisingadisk 19 with a series of numbers thereon and a freely-rotatable arrow or index 20 to coact with said numbers and adapted to be spun, as will be readily understood. On opposite sides of the'thoroughfareand the sidewalk or path adjacent to the space 3 are spaces 21 and 22, which may be respectively used for receiving rules and instructions relating to the game and a description of the city or town which the playing-field represents.

As before indicated, the game is played by two persons, each taking a family of three, consisting of three playing-pieces of the same color, and starting in the corresponding color at Home and moving over the opposite sidewalks or pathways through the town or city in opposite directions, going through each store or business house in turn. To decide the first play, the two persons engaged first spin the arrow, and the highest number obtained will accord the player having the same to the first play, and the moves are then made in regular order in alternation or turn, each player allowed only one spin of the arrow or index 20. It is necessary in starting the game that each of the players shall obtain 1 or 8 before being permitted to move a playing-piece on the startingspace 15. After the playing-pieces are started they can be moved as many spaces as the number indicated by the arrow in the alternate plays, and in traveling over the spaces 15 each player must in turn regularly pass through each section 10, the one player on one side moving in relation to said sections and the player on the opposite side moving in relation to his sections. Two players cannot stop on the same circle or space 15, and if a player stops on a circle occupied by an opponent it takes the opponent off, and he has to start from Home again, as in the beginning of the game. A player can take either row of spaces going through the hotel 14 and pass with safety an opponent moving on the adjacent row; but if two players are opposite on the double row in the hotel it forms a blockade, whether the players are of the same family or not, and one must be moved before any other player can pass. player must have the exact number required Returning home the r to go out, and the player getting all the family home first wins the game.

It is proposed to illuminate the playingfield by suitable colors and also to make it have the appearance, as much as possible, of a business street with teams standing and moving thereover at different points, and it is obvious that changes in the form, proportions, dimensions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

The title preferably given to the game is Out Shopping,-but it is obvious that this can be changed at will. At times the improved game apparatus can be employed for advertising purposes, and in view of its simplicity can be cheaply manufactured.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A game-board having a playing-field comprising a starting-point located at one end of the board,opposite longitudinal rows of spaces designed to receive playing-pieces, said longitudinal rows extending from the startingpoint to the opposite end of the board, short straight transverse'rows of spaces connecting the outer ends of the longitudinal rows, and the oppositely-disposed outwardly-extending transverse rows of spaces, said outwardly-extending transverse rows consisting of two series of approximately U-shaped loops connected at their ends with the longitudinal rows and located at opposite sides of the board at the outer portion thereof, substantially as described. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 1

WILLIAM M. STEBBINS.

Witnesses:

INEZ L. MCINTYRE, G. M. HALE. 

